Sunday, 27 September 2015

Well done Adam!

As we had no runners on Saturday, I could (after all the morning yard work, office jobs and owner entertaining had been done!) enjoy an afternoon in my arm chair enjoying a good day's racing and I'm glad I could because it gave me full opportunity to catch our stable jockey Adam Beschizza's biggest win of his career when he landed the Cambridgeshire Handicap on Third Time Lucky for Richard Fahey at Newmarket. Adam made a flying start to his career as an apprentice but things have been a bit tough since he rode out his claim in recent years. However, me and my owners have always believed in him and have always supported him when we could because he is a very talented rider and a hell of a jockey. He knows how to graft too and is in riding out for us every morning. Jockeys go in and out of fashion despite them still riding perfectly well - hopefully this big race success can get Adam back in vogue again...as long as I can use him when I want to!

Adam all smiles after winning the Cambridgeshire

I'm getting this week's blog done just before hitting the road for the next six hours as I take two runners up to Hamilton for tomorrow's racing. I would normally avoid long trips like this as it isn't usually economically viable but the races we are in were just tailor made for us so it was an opportunity not to be missed.

Our main hope is Veeraya who looks to be well in for the claimer. We are gradually getting round to his way of thinking and the handicapper is giving him a chance too by dropping him in the weights. Providing the ground doesn't go soft, he will hopefully earn us the diesel money.

Accompanying him will be Silver Alliance. I was only taking him originally to keep Veeraya company but his race looks winnable too and he is the sort of horse who pops up when you least expect it. He is in good order and, although I usually give him a few weeks between runs, he seems fresh at home.

Veeraya (Mark) & Art Beat (Adam)

Whilst Poppy and I will be having a sisters' road trip to Scotland, also on Monday we have Harry Bosch at Bath. He is looking very well handicapped now and won at the track earlier in the year. It has been a bit disappointing that he hasn't followed up that success but he feels well at home and there's no reason why he shouldn't run well.

Harry Bosch (Luke) & Sheila's Heart (Ross)

Candesta has had a good break over the summer to freshen up after a long winter campaign but now he is back to full fitness and I'm looking forward to running him again at Chelmsford on Thursday. His homework has been great and he certainly looks better than what he is rated at the moment. He used to race in blinkers but his attitude at home has been faultless so I'll leave them off and hope he is back to full enthusiasm.
With him will be going Honeymoon Express. She has fallen right in the weights and has to have a good chance now off her low handicap mark. Her last run showed us she isn't quick enough for five furlongs so the step up to six furlongs is called for and I would hope she can be in the mix.

Candesta (Luke) & Duke Of Diamonds (Caitlin)

John and I will be hopping on the Eurostar on Friday afternoon to head over to Longchamp, Paris, to watch this year's Arc De Triomphe. That leaves Ross to run the show over the weekend and hopefully he can get a result for us to cheer at Wolverhampton on Friday night.
Star of the Stage makes his debut for us and I hope he can fare well. I gave him time to strengthen up after buying him in July and he has done really well physically and has been galloping great too. He isn't fully wound up so I expect more improvement to come but hopefully he can run respectably.
Also at Dunstall Park will be Limerick Lord. He is a sprinter who takes his races well and is gradually coming down to a handicap mark he can win off. As always, he will be thereabouts and might win with the rub of the green.

Star of the Stage (Adam) & Dakota City (Mark)

Horses return from exercise on Saturday morning

We have a group of fillies who have had a summer break and are now back cantering in preparation for the all-weather season.
Meddling is a reliable yard stick on the all-weather and wins a race every winter as well as getting placed plenty of times. She is in the mares' sale in December so it would be good if she could win before then and go to the auction with some form to her name. She is about a month away from running again.

Meddling (Ross)

Likewise, Serendib's Glory and Go On Gal will be aimed at a winter campaign. Both have strengthened right up for their break and look fantastic now. Go On Gal is already handicapped and looks a sure winner off her current mark. Serendib is unraced as she was a bit weak earlier in the year but looks more than ready to run very soon.

Serendib's Glory (Caitlin) & Go On Gal (Luke)

THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE
Placings from It's A Sheila Thing and Automotive have been a welcome boost to some people's points but it still doesn't make things any clearer at the top with just a point separating the leaders.